Related Articles

British Embassy officials in Thailand refused to confirm the report, but in the email, seen by the AFP news-agency, Bangkok-based immigration liaison manager Andy Gray, from the UK Border Agency wrote:

"The United Kingdom Border Agency has revoked the UK visas held by the following Thai nationals: Thaksin Shinawatra... Potjaman Shinawatra." It also listed the couple's passport numbers.

"The UK visas contained in the passports of the individuals listed above are no longer valid for travel. Airlines are advised not to carry these passengers to the UK," the email said.

One airline official confirmed the British embassy had informed all airlines not to allow the couple to board flights to Britain.

He said: "The British embassy sent an email message to all airlines operating from Bangkok on Friday that the British authorities had revoked the visa for Thaksin and Potjaman," he said.

"It's general practice for all airlines, so no airline can take them on board to England from any port."

The former PM made his fortune in property and came to the wider attention of the British public when he bought Manchester City Football Club, which he sold in August.

The case against Mr Thaksin included corruption charges relating to the purchase of state land by his wife, abuses of power over government money, concealing assets and tax evasion.

A week ago he made a telephone address to as many as 90,000 supporters at a Bangkok sports stadium. Speaking from an undisclosed location Thaksin thanked the crowd but told them he could not return from exile without a royal pardon.

Thaksin's critics in Thailand, backed by a group called the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), have occupied the grounds of the prime minister's offices since August, accusing the current government of running the country on his behalf.

Supporters of the PAD descended on the British embassy on October 30 to demand the extradition of the former premier, a week after a senior Thai prosecutor admitted the chances of this were "slim".